News

New categories for 2016 Offshore Achievement Awards

The 2016 Offshore Achievement Awards were launched on Thursday 10 September and include a number of new categories which will give more businesses and individuals than ever before the opportunity to be recognised for their outstanding work.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the awards since their inception by Scottish Enterprise. In 2011, the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Aberdeen Section re-launched the prestigious awards, which are now open to both oil and gas and renewables companies.

New categories this year include Environmental Innovation, which focuses on technologies or systems that have reduced the industry’s environmental impact, and Collaboration, which recognises multiple companies or inter-company teams effectively working together on a project, or those collaborating closely with the community on CSR initiatives.

The Outstanding Skills Development Programme Award will recognise companies bringing new talent to the industry, for instance through graduate schemes, apprenticeships or military conversion programmes. On an individual level, Above and Beyond has been introduced and is open to any individual who goes beyond their daily role to contribute to their company or the industry in general.

In recognition of the 30th anniversary of the awards, Significant Contribution is not only open to individuals this year, but also companies or projects which have demonstrated the most significant professional contribution to the offshore energy industry.

Ian Phillips, chief executive of the Oil and Gas Innovation Centre and the SPE Aberdeen board member responsible for the OAAs, said: “Collaboration, innovation and making efficiencies are focal areas for the UK oil and gas industry in the current climate, and the OAAs recognise companies and individuals developing new ideas, initiatives and ways of working which will ensure the long-term future of the industry.

“Despite a troubled year for the oil and gas sector, there are still many success stories to be heard and the Offshore Achievement Awards is the premier forum in which to share these. Likewise, there is much to celebrate in the UK’s world-leading offshore renewables sector and these successes will be given the same priority as those within oil and gas.

“SPE Aberdeen is committed to inspiring and investing in the next generation - of people and of technology – and the OAAs is an excellent way to share ideas and spark an interest in the leaders of tomorrow.”

The awards were launched during this year’s Offshore Europe exhibition, during which SPE ran workshops for schools to teach them more about the oil and gas industry and the career options available. As part of an organised tour of the exhibition, the school pupils visited the Aker Solutions stand, a company which has supported the Offshore Achievement Awards since the relaunch and is sponsoring the 2016 Significant Contribution award.

Matt Corbin, managing director of Aker Solutions’ UK Subsea Business, commented: “We all have a responsibility to the next generation, as well as to the companies we work for, to find ways to build the oil and gas workforce of tomorrow.

“As an industry, we have to attract, nurture and develop talent at the earliest stages. Aker Solutions works hard to ensure we have that steady pipeline of talent through our graduate and apprentice schemes as well as schools engagement programmes. In supporting the Offshore Achievement Awards, we are supporting SPE Aberdeen with its efforts to interest and attract the workforce of tomorrow, and celebrating those companies who share our philosophy and are making a real contribution to the industry today, and for tomorrow.”

Entries from UK-registered companies operating within the renewables or the oil and gas industry will open on Thursday, 1 October, 2015.

The 2016 Offshore Achievement Awards categories are:

Emerging Technology
Innovator
Safety Innovations
Environmental Innovation
Export Achievement
Collaboration
Outstanding Skills Development Programme
Young Professional
Above and Beyond
Great Small Company
Great Large Company
Significant Contribution

The awards are open for entries until Tuesday, 1 December. The black tie ceremony taking place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on Thursday, 17 March, 2015. For further information and entry criteria, please visit www.spe-oaa.org.